Day 18 - Encouragement Part 1 Encourage the Encouragers

Hope is a candle of light in the darkness. Anyone can light a candle of hope anywhere in the world, but most don’t because they don’t believe that their candle will make any difference. And in some ways, they are right. Lighting a candle in Wales is unlikely to bring its light to India. However, it might do to a neighbour or friend who needs a word of comfort and hope today. Therefore, all we can do is to try and light candles of hope wherever we go. Recognise though that there might be one who is tired from daily bringing candles of light to others and believes he isn’t making any difference. He feels like giving up, believing it isn’t worth the cost of all he has to put into these lights of hope. If we never thank another for the light they bring us, they might give up which would then mean that the person they could have reached with that light will remain in darkness.

Many people are bringers of the light, but they too are human and need encouragement that their light is making a difference. It is so easy to say thank you to another. Just two little words, thank you. So many give up lighting candles for others because they believe they make no difference. We must encourage the encourages in this world. They are in very short supply. Whilst any one can encourage, few have found the desire or skill to do so. So next time when someone brings you a light that blesses you in some small way, encourage them to keep going, because if they give up, many will remain in darkness and that can be a very sad and lonely place to be. You are a link in the chain, ensuring that another person receives a lit candle. Do your part to encourage all those who daily go out of their way to bring light to others. Remember the story of Jesus and the ten lepers. He healed ten and yet only one came back to thank him. Why was that do you think? Encourage the encouragers for if you don’t there might be less light in this dark world than there need be.

Are you an encourager?

How do you encourage?

What things encourage you to keep bringing lit candles of hope to others?

Think of a time when you felt like giving up because you didn’t believe you were making a difference. What helped you to keep going?

Think about the encouragers in your life. What might you do to thank and encourage them to keep going?